Caster-pintle.



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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

-WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE, OF FLUSI-IING, NEW YORK.

CASTER-PINTLE.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,340, datedDecember 16, 1902- Application tiled January 31,1902. Serial No. 91,979.(No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM LivINGsroNn, a citizen `of the United States,residing in Flushing, in the county of Queens and State 'of New York,have invented certain new and it or to be secured to the horn or frameof the caster and turn with it in a socket.

There is set forth in my Patent No. 689,553,

granted December 24, 1901, certain improvements in furniture-casters,which 'improvements embody a pintle formed from a single 'piece of sheetmetal and provided with a shouldered end, constituting the end of thepintle,

for rotative or fixed connection with the horn of the caster. Asdisclosed in that patent, such pintle comprises two sernitubularsections integrally connected at the end opposite to the shouldered endof the pintle, and while two forms of such pintle are shown, one adaptedto be driven into the furniture-leg and have the horn revolve about itand the other adapted for revoluble connection with the socket, in bothinstances the integral connection between the sections exists at thehead end of the pintle, as aforesaid. Such pintle is formed by bendingthe two semitubular sections midway of their length to a tubular shape,the resulting structure having a longitudinal seam down each side of thepintlebody. As more fully described in the specication of that patent, Iam enabled to provide the pintle with an enlarged head, adapting theformer to be readily engaged with the socket in such a manner as topermit its free rotation when it is desired to form a caster with arotatable pintle.

According to the present improvements the integral connection betweenthe opposite sections of the pintle-body is formed along one side-thatis, axially of the body-and the resultant structure is such, therefore,as tends to an increased rigidity of the pintle. I also employ a pintleconstruction embodying appropriate spring members integral with thepintle itself and adapting the same to be rotatably connected with asocket, as distinguished from the construction shown and described in mypatent, in which the spring members are formed on and extend from thesocket and engage with the enlarged head of the pintle.

I am aware that, broadly, it is not new to provide a pintle with springmembers as a means for rotatably supporting the pintle in positioninstead of forming such members by means of projections extending fromthe pintle-socket or otherwise; but in all constructions embodyingpintles so provided and having a separate horn the means adopted toconstitute an end bearing on the pintle, so far as known to me, consistsof a rib formed by upsetting the pintle at the proper point thereof,while the portion of the pintle which engages with the horn of thecaster is of the same diameter as the body of the pintle. By reason ofthe fact that a substantial diameter must be given to the pintle inorder to render the same satisfactory and durable in use a comparativelylarge opening must be made in the horn in order to pass the engagingportion of the pintle therethrough. Such opening being of comparativelylarge size therefore weakens the horn and renders such structure weakand liable to break.

According to my present improvements, however, that portion of thepintle which is designed to engage with the horn is of less diameterthan the body of the pintle, and the reduction in diameter forms ashoulder or taper portion against which the horn may be seated. Theportion of the pintle passing through the opening in the horn being ofcomparatively small size, while at the same time facilitating the readyand firm engagement of the horn with the pintle, obviates thedisadvantage of weakness inherent in the structures referred to. .Y

In the drawings accompanying thepresent specification I have set forth apintle-body only, not deeming it necessary for the purpose of thepresent disclosure `to represent also the horn and other features of thecaster, since the shouldered or otherwise-formed lower portion of thepintle may be of a con-` struction similar to the corresponding portionof the pintle-body shown in my prior patent ICO ' pintle.

and to which reference may therefore be had for a more detaileddescription.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an outline View of a blank suitable for theconstruction of a pintle such as my presentinvention embodies. Fig. 2 isa View of such a blank after the same has been submitted to the actionof proper dies or by other means has had the portions which willultimately form the pintle rounded to shape. Fig. 3 is an end viewof-Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an elevational View of the completed Fig. 5 is anend View ot'Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows a'blank is bent to form one or moreshoulders will be present at the endof the pintle, as set forth in my prior patent, or such end will beconical, as will be explained later. For the purpose of forming a pintlewith a shoulder I may either adopt the configuration of blank set forthin Fig. l, which is adapted to give a pintle of reduced end diameter andembodying stepped sections 2 3, (see Fig. 4,) formed by projections c c,extending from the body portion h of the blank. Each projection c isadapted to form a substantially semitubular end for the pintle andcomprises two portions modified form of blank. Fig. 7 is a centrallongitudinal section of a pintle made from a blank such as set forth inFig. 6, the plane of the section corresponding to that of the seam alongthe meeting edges of the blank after the same has been shaped tocylindrical form. Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7. Figs. 9 and 10 areviews of a blank and a pintle made therefrom in which a taper portion issubstituted for the shouldered portion of the shouldered pintle shown inthe other figures. Fig. 11 is a view illustrating a modified form ofblank to that indicated in Fig. l and represents the blank as havingtenon members struck up from the body thereof and enabling the pintle tobe xedly secured in the furniture-leg. Fig. 12 is an elevational View ofa finished pintle made from such a blank, and Fig. 13 is an end view ofthe pintle set forth in Fig. l2.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts in all figures.

As before stated, the caster will embody a suitable roller and casterframe or horn, while the caster may be of the ball-bearing Variety, asset forth, for instance, in my patent hereinbefore referred to. Thesevarious features I have not deemed it necessary to represent or describeherein, but have illustrated that portion only of the casterto wit, thepintleto which the present invention more particularly relates.

Ina general way a blank for forming the present one-piece caster-pintleis of such a .configuration as to adapt it to be bent along a lineextending lengthwise of the pintle, as distinguished from thecorresponding blank shown and described in my prior patent, in which themanufacture of the pintle involves the bending of an elongated blank ata point between its ends and the approach of the two semitubularsections along two diametricallyopposed lines of contact.

In constructing my improved caster-pintle a blank such as thatdesignated by B in Fig. 1 is stamped or otherwise cut from sheet metalof suitable nature and thickness, the width of such'blank beingsufficient when the same is shaped to cylindrical form to yield a pintleof the desired diameter. For forming the horn-engaging end of the pintlea conformation is given to the blank at the corresponding edge portionsuch that when the c o2 of different widths, yielding when the pintle isnally shaped to form the aforesaid stepped sections 2 and 3, bot-h of adiameter less than the diameter of the body b of the pintle. It isevident if this form of blank be used that the reduced end of the pintlewill have two diametrically-opposed seams extending lengthwise of thepintle, the section 3- being connected with the portion 2 bya shoulder20 and the section 2 with the pintle-body by a shoulder 12. If, however,a conguration of blank such as indicated in Fig. 6 is employed, in whichthe width of the respective portions o3 c4, extending from the body h2of the blank B', correspond to the circumferential measurement of therespective reduced sections 3 2, there will be but one seam on thepintle-body h3, extending lengthwise thereof from end to end. In theform of blank indicated in Fig. 9 two projections o0 co, each havingsides tapering toward each other, extend from the body portion b4 of theblank B, the resultant pintle comprising a body portion h5 having atapering end section 4.

Whatever the form of the blank used the same will embody suitablemembers for forming one or more spring members adapted to engage theinner surface of the socket when it is desired that the pintle shall bea revoluble one. As here shown, these spring members are in the form ofprojections, such as 5, extending from the upper edge of the bodyportion of the blank, and when the latter is shaped to cylindrical formand their number and disposition are as represented they will bedisposed diametrically opposite each to each.

The blank is preferably first submitted to the action of suitable diesor by other means the opposite sides of the blank are each rounded intoa' semitubular form to constitute each a half-pintle. The opposite sideedges of the blank are then bent toward each other until they contactand the blank is shaped to the complete cylindrical form of the pintle.At some period in the process of manufacture the aforesaid projections 5are bent so as to extend somewhat beyond the circumference of thepintle-body. In this instance the ends of such projections are carriedreversely in order that the projections may form satisfactory springmembers IOO IIO

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adapted for engagement with a `suitablyformed socket to thus retain thepintle in position therein.

In a pintle which it is designed shall be ixedly secured in place theaforesaid projections 5 may be dispensed w'ithand suitable tenon membersbe employed for engaging directly with the leg of the article of fumi;ture, dac., thereby ixing the pintle in place and preventing itsrotation. Such tenon members may conveniently be struck up from the bodyportion of the blank, they being in this instance indicated anddesignated by 6. (See Fig. ll, in which the blank is designated by Bm.)In the configuration thereof shown this body portion h6 of the blank isprovided with projections c5 c5 like the corresponding projections ofthe blank in Fig.

` 1, except that here each projection is substantially of uniform width,yielding a pintle in which a "reduced end 7 connects with the bodyportion 197 of the pintle by a shoulder 21".

Having described my invention, I claim-- l. A blank for forming apintle, the blank comprising a substantially rectangular body portionfrom one edge of which and between the sides of the blank, metal hasbeen removed to permitthe remaining metal to form a pintle en'd ofreduced diameter for the attachment of a separate caster appliance.

2. A blank for forming a pintle, the blank comprising a substantiallyrectangular body portion from one edge of which projections extend forforming integral spring members, and from the opposite edge of whichmetal has been removed to permit the remaining` metal to form a pintleend of reduced diameter for the attachment of a separate casterappliance.

3. A blankfor forming a pintle, the blank comprising a substantiallyrectangular body portion from one edge of which and between the sides ofthe blank, metal has been removed to permit the remaining metal to forma pintle end of reduced diameter for the attachment of a separatecaster` appliance, and the blank having tenon members struck up from themetal thereof.

4. In a caster, a single-piece pintle formed from a sheet-metal blankfrom one edge of `which and between the sides of the blank,

metal has been removed, and comprising two semitubular portions havingan integral connection along a line extending throughout the length ofthe body portion of the pintle and an end of reduced diameter for theatl tachment of a separate caster appliance.

5p. In a caster, a single-piece pintle formed from a sheetmetal blankand comprising two semitubular portions having an integral connectionalong a line extending throughout the length of the body portion of thepintle, said pintle having integral spring members at one end and beingof reduced diameter at the opposite end for the attachment of a separatecaster appliance.

6. In a caster, a pintle made from a substantially rectangular blank andhaving tenon members struck up from the metal of the blank lying beyondthe edges thereof.

7. In a caster, a pintle having tenon members struck up from the metalof the body portion of the pintle, and an end of reduced diameterconnecting by an annular shoulder with the body portion of the pintlefor the attachment of a separate caster appliance.

WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE.

Witnesses:

PIERsoN L. WELLS, JOHN O. SEIFERT.

